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Fabric makers start servicing garment sector

Reena Mital - Mumbai

A section of the fabric manufacturing sector has realised the potential of the domestic market, especially of the garment export sector, and has put in place strategies that focus on this sector.

Morarjee Brembana: Morarjee Brembana had started out as a 100 per cent EOU, but is today one of the important suppliers to the garment industry. Says Mr Robert Lobo, “While providing quality, it is service that is equally important for the garmenter. We pitch in with the garment exporter and the buyer, to understand the requirements of our clients, and deliver accordingly. Moreover, we provide the trends for each season, which also helps our customers.”

Mafatlal Burlington: Mafatlal Burlington has increased its fabric supplies in the domestic market, realising the potential of the garment sector. The company, till 2-3 years back was exporting around 85 per cent of its production, but today, has brought this down to 65-70 per cent. According to Mr Rajiv Dayal, CEO, Mafatlal Burlington, “With a major presence in the global market, we are in a position to understand better the requirements of the international buyers, and are also in a position to establish an efficient supply chain. The buyers today want the readymade garment, and not just the fabric, and would prefer to work with those garmenters and mills that can offer an integrated package. And we have been part of these long term programmes.”

Besides, the company is now in the process of evaluating the possibilities of vertical and horizontal integration, and would take a final decision by 2005.

Century Mills: Century Mills has been one of the important fabric suppliers to the garment exporters, and the company is now looking at entering into garment exports itself. “Our focus will increasingly be servicing the garment exporters, and probably also exporting garments ourselves,” informed Mr R K Dalmia, president, Century Mills. Says Mr Dalmia, “The company has been working closely with garmenters, and wherever there is an integrated chain, there have been no problems of delivery, quality, etc. We can supply new types of fabrics within 30-45 days, and have successfully developed a number of new fabrics as demanded by the garmenters. However, when garmenters come with sample developments, get approvals, and then expect mills to deliver the fabric within 15 days, that is impossible. Textile manufacturing is a lengthy process, and no mill can be expected to stop production of its running varieties, and immediately start manufacturing the fabric types required by the garmenter. There needs to be better, long term planning and organisation between the garment exporters, mills and international buyers.”

Siyaram Silk Mills: The company has identified the garment export segment as the growth area for its fabric business. “Product development is our strong point, and we very regularly introduce innovative varieties into the market. Moreover, we have identified certain fast-moving varieties in the garment sector, of which we would have higher runs, so that these are easily available to the garmenters at any time,” said Mr Arvind Poddar, managing director, Siyaram Silk Mills.

Ridham Synthetics: Ridham Synthetics is investing in sprucing up its weaving and processing facilities, setting up a high-tech lab, and in IT applications for efficient resource management and customer relationship management. Garment exporters account for 30 per cent of the company’s output consumption.

Sutlej Industries - Sutlej Industries is shifting its focus to cater to the garment export sector. The company at present exports around 80 per cent of its fabric production. Says Mr K C Aggarwal, executive president, marketing, Sutlej Industries, “This sector has a lot of potential, and the mills should service it. Even today, there is lack of awareness on the part of the garmenters about the capabilities of the fabric manufacturers and the varieties of fabrics that are available in the country, and the mills too are not very well aware of the needs of the garmenters. This gap needs to be bridged.” According to him, the mills were more focussed on the overseas markets, but with textile exports expected to be restricted in the years to come, the garment export sector would provide a huge market for fabrics, provided the delivery schedules and quality standards are met.

Bodywaves - A fabric importers, Bodywaves is now planning to enter into garment exports, and has entered into a joint venture with a European partner for manufacturing 100,000 shirts per month, starting February-March 2005. “We are also in the process of setting up a yarn dyed shirting facility of half a million metres per month, with Italian collaboration. This will feed our garmenting facility, besides which we will continue to source fabrics internationally too. Besides, we are focussing on sampling too, and will be installing two sampling warpers to cater to the needs of the garment exporters,” said Mr Brij Bang of Bodywaves.